When I visited the Provence Region of the South of France a few years ago, I was struck by the Roman theatre in the town of Orange. Theatres and performance halls have always been built to magnificent scales and no Roman town was ever complete without its forum, its amphitheatre and a theatre. Orange was no different- except that it got to be one of the hand few towns/ cities in the world that still have a functional Roman theatre to this day.
The Scaenae frons (permanent elaborately decorated backdrop of a Roman stage) is incredibly intact in sections at the Roman theatre. How much more grand would it have been when new! The theatre is still occasionally used for an annual opera concert if I am not mistaken. Regular conservation works are always on considering how fragile the whole structure is.
It looks great!
Thank you!
wow! i don’t think i’ve seen this theatre before… at first glance i thought it was petra (or something of that sorts). very interesting!
amazing!! anyone would be struck dumb by backdrop such as this!!!
Usually one associates Roman ruins with Italy only. Quite a surprise to see them in France! But on second thoughts considering the vast Roman Empire it should not be a surprise. Thanks to you we realised this.